Changing

 

It's been a long, long time.

I had to have a break from blogging - a six-month-long mutating virus, followed by weeks of post-viral fatigue. It was very tedious and would be even more tedious for me to write about and for you to read. But I'm better now and decided that it was time to come back. So here I am.

It is, however, time for a change, or changes even, the first of which will be the title of this blog. When I started writing it, almost a decade ago, 60 going on 16 as a title seemed like a good idea. Lighthearted, fun even. And I was still two years away from 60. Now, 70 is on the not-so-distant horizon, to the extent that I am contemplating what 70 - and beyond - will be like.

With a bit of luck and a fair wind, my seventies may be as full of pleasant surprises as my sixties have been, apart from that brief brush with cancer five years ago. But we change, or at least evolve, and the one positive aspect of being in the grip of a stubborn and energy-zapping virus over the past year was that it forced me to slow down and spend time quietly. So, I did only those things that absolutely had to be done and things that I knew were truly good for me. There was precious little gadding about; there was an enormous amount of reading, thinking - and more reading. And writing; there was always writing, just not on the blog.

All of which led me to the thought that 60 going on 16, as a title, had run its course. So, this will be the last time that it appears at the top of this blog. If you already subscribe, you need do nothing; I am assured that each blogpost will appear as before in your email in-box or list of RSS feeds, under its new name.

If you don't subscribe and want to find me on your preferred search engine, here are the magic new words:

Writing, not drowning

See you there, very soon! Meanwhile, I'll leave you with David Bowie c1971. Seems fitting . . .

  

Comments

[friend, still in transit]

Welcome back! And very much looking forward to Writing, not drowning.

[Liz]

So very good to see you back, my friend! Love the new look and the new moniker. The landscape has certainly changed since we cut our blogging teeth, with many old favourites defecting to Twitter and Instagram, posting information more or less as it happens, or blogs as business and (oh, so annoying) sponsored posts. Long live the blog, I say. Here's to Writing, Not Drowning.

[60 going on 16]

Thank you very dear Friend Still in Transit. I do hope not to disappoint!

And thank you, Liz; so good to hear your warm and encouraging words. You and I have been on quite a journey since we started blogging . . .

I must be one of the few people on Planet Earth who does not possess a smartphone, so Instagram is beyond my capabilities, as it were. I dip in and out of Twitter, but only in small bursts, and I dived into the murky waters of Facebook during the past year but that, as they say, is another story. (To be continued.)

[Bob Nobes]

Absolutely delighted that you are back. I too am on the cusp of 70 (18 months to go) so will be comparing notes as we go.

Bob

[writing, not drowning]

Thank you, Bob; good to hear from you and good to be back. I remember that we are of a similar vintage . . . hope all is well with you.

[Moira]

Welcome back. I had noticed your absence. Sorry that it has been caused by ill-health, but glad that you are recovered.

[Maggie]

Great to see you back in action! So sorry about the wretched virus though. Love the new title. As one who will be seventy in exactly two years I will look forward to your new posts and your perspective on the upcoming decade.

Maggie B.

[writing, not drowning]

Hello Moira and Maggie; so pleased to hear from you both. The virus was a pesky thing - not serious but debilitating enough to drain almost all my creative energy. Very frustrating!

[Colleen]

Welcome back! And here's to a productive future. And we're both in that select group sans smartphone, by the way.

[Sally]

Glad you are back. I hope this next year is free of heath glitches for you. I look forward to the new show!

[Sarah]

What a delight to hear from you again. I'm sorry your absence was due to ill health but glad to hear you are feeling better and coming back to your blog. I love your new name and look forward to following your adventures again.

[writing, not drowning]

Thank you, Colleen; it cheers me enormously to hear that you do not have a smartphone . . .

And thank you, Sally and Sarah for your encouraging comments - I'll do my best to stay healthy and keep the show on the road!